Silicone-coated fabric

ABSTRACT

This invention provides a silicone-coated fabric for airbags in which creases can be easily formed by applying heat and pressure, and that can be stored compactly. More specifically, the invention provides a silicone-coated fabric comprising a silicone-based resin coated on one surface of a synthetic fiber woven fabric, and a thermoplastic resin adhering to a non-silicone coated surface, which is not coated with the silicone-based resin, wherein the adhesive strength between the non-silicone coated surfaces is 0.01 to 100 N/cm.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a silicone-coated fabric comprising athermoplastic resin adhering to its non-silicone-coated surface, and toan airbag obtained using the fabric.

BACKGROUND ART

During regular driving, airbags are stored in the steering wheel,dashboard, etc., and in a vehicle collision, a sensor detects the impactand generates high-pressure gas, with which the airbag is inflatedinstantaneously. The inflated airbag prevents occupants from hitting thesteering wheel etc.

Therefore, the fabrics used for airbags are required to, first, havehigh air tightness to minimize gas leakage, second, have appropriatestrength, and third, be able to be folded compactly so as to be storedin a small limited space in a vehicle as described above. A fourthrequirement is that the fabrics be highly responsive and light so thatthe bag is inflated quickly when necessary.

Under such circumstances, coated fabrics conventionally used for airbagsare fabrics in which an elastomer, such as synthetic rubber (e.g.,chloroprene, chlorosulfonated olefin, and silicone), is stacked onto onesurface of a plain-weave fabric formed of nylon 66 filament yarn (dtex:400 to 1100).

Patent Literature (PTL) 1 discloses a fabric for airbags in which asilicone rubber composition obtained by incorporating a thermoplasticresin powder into silicone rubber is coated onto a nylon 66 wovenfabric. In PTL 1, the thermoplastic resin powder is used by mixing withsilicone rubber so that the thermoplastic resin powder is present in thesilicone rubber in a buried state. Further, in PTL 1, the thermoplasticresin powder is incorporated for the purpose of reducing the surfaceadhesiveness of the silicone rubber and improving the texture.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

PTL 1: JP2006-77145A

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

To fold a fabric for airbags compactly, a recently used storage methodcomprises simultaneously applying heat and pressure to a base fabric toform creases to fold the fabric more compactly. The storage methodcomprising simultaneously applying heat and pressure to form creases isonly used for non-coated fabrics as a base fabric, rather than forsilicone-coated fabrics, which are currently used mainly as a basefabric for airbags. This is because silicone-based resins used insilicone-coated fabrics are a thermosetting resin, and a silicone-coatedlayer that has already been cured on a base fabric does not easily formcreases by heating; thus, even when a process of forming creases wasperformed by applying heat and pressure, it was impossible to fold thefabric compactly.

An object of the present invention is to provide a silicone-coatedfabric for airbags in which creases can easily be formed by applyingheat and pressure, and that can be stored compactly.

Technical Problem

To solve the above problems, the present inventor conducted extensiveresearch. The present invention has thus been completed. Morespecifically, the present invention is as follows.

1. A silicone-coated fabric comprising a silicone-based resin coated onone surface of a synthetic fiber woven fabric, and a thermoplastic resinadhering to a non-silicone coated surface, which is not coated with thesilicone-based resin, wherein the adhesive strength between thenon-silicone coated surfaces is 0.01 to 100 N/cm.

2. The silicone-coated fabric according to Item 1, wherein thethermoplastic resin has a melting point of 50 to 200° C.

3. The silicone-coated fabric according to Item 1 or 2, wherein thecoating amount of the silicone-based resin is 10 to 200 g/m².

4. An airbag obtained by using the silicone-coated fabric of any one ofItems 1 to 3.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

In an airbag formed of the silicone-coated fabric of the presentinvention, creases can be easily formed by applying heat and pressure,which enables the airbag to be stored compactly. This airbag has highairtightness as with airbags formed of a conventional silicone-coatedfabric. Furthermore, the use of this silicone-coated fabric enablesproduction of an airbag that can be stored compactly, which isadvantageous since restrictions on vehicle interior designs can bereduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a drawing regarding the arrangement of the thermoplastic resinof Examples 1 and 3 to 5.

FIG. 2 is a drawing regarding the arrangement of the thermoplastic resinof Example 2.

FIG. 3 is a drawing regarding the arrangement of the thermoplastic resinof Comparative Example 2.

FIG. 4 is a drawing describing the sampling method for evaluation ofcompactness.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The following describes the present invention in detail.

In the present invention, the term “synthetic fiber woven fabric” refersto a woven fabric woven from a synthetic fiber yarn. The woven fabric isexcellent in mechanical strength and also excellent in reduciblethickness. The structure of the woven fabric may be, but is not limitedto, a plain weave, a twill weave, a sateen weave, a variation of theseweaving patterns, a multiaxial woven pattern, or the like; of these, aplain-weave fabric, which is excellent in mechanical strength, isparticularly preferable.

Usable synthetic fiber yarn may be formed of, in particular, aliphaticpolyamide fibers, such as nylon 66, nylon 6, nylon 46, and nylon 12;aromatic polyamide fibers, such as aramid fibers; and polyester fibers,such as polyethylene terephthalate, polymethylene terephthalate, andpolybutylene terephthalate.

Additionally, synthetic fiber yarn may be formed of wholly aromaticpolyester fibers, poly(p-phenylene benzobisoxazole) fibers (PBO fibers),ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene fibers, polyphenylene sulfidefibers, polyether ketone fibers, and the like. From an economicalviewpoint, polyester fiber yarn and polyamide fiber yarn are preferable,and polyamide 66 fiber yarn is particularly preferable. These fibers maybe obtained from a starting material, part or all of which is a recycledmaterial.

These synthetic fibers for synthetic fiber yarn may contain variousadditives in order to make it easier to perform the yarn production andsubsequent weaving process. Examples of additives include antioxidants,heat stabilizers, smoothing agents, antistatic agents, thickeningagents, flame retardants, and the like. These synthetic fibers may besolution-dyed yarn or yarn dyed after spinning. The cross-sectionalsurface of a single type of yarn may be a usual round cross-section orirregular cross-section typified by, for example, a triangularcross-section. For the synthetic fiber yarn, it is preferable to use amultifilament yarn containing 72 filaments or more, from the standpointof flexibility and smoothness of the silicone-coated surface. Althoughthe upper limit is not particularly limited, the number of filaments ispreferably 216 or less, since an overly large number of filaments makesthe production of the yarn difficult. The fineness is preferably 0.1 to10 dpf per single yarn of the obtained yarn.

The synthetic fiber woven fabric of the present invention preferably hasan oil amount of 0.20 wt % or less. When the oil amount exceeds 0.20 wt%, the adhesiveness with a silicone-based resin decreases. The oilamount is more preferably 0.15 wt % or less, and more preferably 0.10 wt% or less. Although the lower limit is not particularly limited, the oilamount is preferably 0.005 wt % or more, and more preferably 0.01 wt %or more.

Specific examples of silicone-based resins include additionpolymerization silicone rubber, such as dimethyl silicone rubber, methylvinyl silicone rubber, methylphenyl silicone rubber, trimethyl siliconerubber, fluorosilicone rubber, methyl silicone resin, methylphenylsilicone resin, methyl vinyl silicone resin, epoxy-modified siliconeresin, acrylic-modified silicone resin, polyester-modified siliconeresin, and the like. Of these, addition polymerization methyl vinylsilicone rubber is preferable because the rubber exhibits rubberelasticity after being cured, excellent strength and stretchability, andcost advantages.

When a silicone-based resin is used, a curing promoter may be used.Examples include platinum-based compounds, such as platinum powder,chloroplatinic acid, and tetrachloroplatinic acid; palladium compounds;rhodium compounds; organic peroxides, such as benzoyl peroxide,perchlorobenzoyl peroxide, and orthochloro peroxide; and the like.

To improve the adhesiveness between the silicone-based resin and thesynthetic fiber woven fabric, it is preferable to add an adhesive aid tothe silicone based-resin. The adhesive aid is, for example, at least onemember selected from the group consisting of amino-based silane couplingagents, epoxy-modified silane coupling agents, vinyl-based silanecoupling agents, chloro-based silane coupling agents, and mercapto-basedsilane coupling agents.

In a preferable embodiment, an inorganic filler is also added to thesilicone-based resin. The inorganic filler to be added is preferablysilica particles, which are the most typical filler and which are usedas a filler for reinforcement, viscosity adjustment, heat resistanceimprovement, flame retardancy improvement, etc. of silicone-basedresins. The silica particles preferably have a specific surface area of50 cm²/g or more, more preferably 50 to 400 m²/g, and still morepreferably 100 to 300 m²/g. When the specific surface area is withinthis range, excellent tear strength characteristics can be easilyimparted to the obtained silicone-based resin cured product. Thespecific surface area is measured by a BET method. The silica particlesmay be used singly or in a combination of two or more. Examples of thesilica particles usable in the present invention include naturalsubstances, such as quartz, berg crystal, silica sand, and diatomite;synthetic substances, such as dry silica, silica fume, wet silica,silica gel, and colloidal silica; and the like.

To more easily impart better flowability to the resin compositioncontaining a silicone-based resin and additives, the silica particlesare preferably hydrophobic silica particles in which hydrophobizationtreatment of the particle surface was performed using an organic siliconcompound. Examples of the organic silicon compound includemethylchlorosilanes, such as trimethylchlorosilane,dimethyldichlorosilane, and methyltrichlorosilane;hexaorganodisilazanes, such as dimethylpolysiloxane,hexamethyldisilazane, divinyltetramethyldisilazane, anddimethyltetravinyldisilazane; and the like.

The silica particle content is preferably 10 to 20 wt %, and morepreferably 12 to 20 wt %, based on the entire silicone-based resin. Whenthe silica particle content is less than 10 mass %, the mechanicalstrength of the silicone-based resin is liable to deteriorate. Incontrast, when the silica particle content exceeds 20 wt %, theflowability of the resin composition easily decreases; as a result, thecoating workability is deteriorated, the resin becomes brittle, and theadhesiveness tends to deteriorate.

In the present invention, the silicone-based resin to be used preferablyhas a resin viscosity of 10,000 to 50,000 mPa·sec, more preferably13,000 to 40,000 mPa·sec, and still more preferably 20,000 to 35,000mPa·sec. When the resin viscosity is less than 10,000 mPa·sec, the resinpenetrates into a woven fabric, making it difficult to ensure the resinthickness necessary for achieving heat resistance and airtightness. Incontrast, when the resin viscosity exceeds 50,000 mPa·sec, it isdifficult to adjust the coating amount to 50 g/m² or less. Thesilicone-based resin may be solvent-based or may be solvent-free as longas its viscosity can be adjusted to be within this viscosity range; asolvent-free silicone resin is preferred in consideration of the impacton the environment.

In the present invention, the coating amount of the silicone-based resinon one surface of the synthetic fiber woven fabric is preferably 10 to200 g/m², more preferably 15 to 100 g/m², and still more preferably 20to 50 g/m². When the coating amount of the silicone-based resin is lessthan 10 g/m², the coated layer has a low thickness and is easily damagedwhen the thermoplastic resin adhesion is peeled off. When the coatingamount exceeds 200 g/m², the coated fabric has rigidity too high;therefore, creases cannot be sufficiently formed with the thermoplasticresin adhesion.

Examples of a thermoplastic resin adhering to the non-silicone-coatedsurface, which is not coated with the silicone-based resin, according tothe present invention, include low-density-polyethylene resins, EVAresins, polyamide resins, polyester resins, PVA resins, polyurethaneresins, polyolefin resins, ionomer resins, and the like.

The thermoplastic resin preferably has a melting point of 50 to 200° C.,more preferably 70 to 150° C., and still more preferably 90 to 120° C.When the melting point of the thermoplastic resin is lower than 50° C.,handling is difficult in high-temperature environments. When the meltingpoint exceeds 200° C., the thermoplastic resin must be heated to a hightemperature to be melted for folding the airbag, undesirably causingthermal deterioration of the synthetic fiber woven fabric and thus areduction in the strength of the airbag.

The thermoplastic resin is applied at least to the non-silicone-coatedsurface, which is not coated with the silicone-based resin, or to bothof the surfaces of the silicone-coated fabric. In consideration of thecost and adhesiveness between the thermoplastic resin and thesilicone-coated fabric, it is preferable that the resin be applied onlyto the non-silicone-coated surface.

When being applied to the non-silicone-coated surface of thesilicone-coated fabric, the thermoplastic resin may be in any state,such as a solid state, a state of being melted by heat, or a state ofbeing dissolved in a solvent. In particular, a solid state, which doesnot require energy for melting or a solvent for dissolving, ispreferred.

The amount of the thermoplastic resin applied varies depending on thetype of the thermoplastic resin and is not particularly limited. Theamount is preferably 20 to 400 g/m², more preferably 25 to 350 g/m², andstill more preferably 30 to 325 g/m². When the amount of thethermoplastic resin applied is less than 20 g/m², the creases formed byapplication of heat and pressure for folding cannot be maintained. Whenthe amount exceeds 400 g/m², the adhesive strength, described later,becomes too high between the non-silicone-coated surfaces (the surfacesto which the thermoplastic resin is applied) of the silicone-coatedfabric; therefore, the filaments constituting the synthetic fiber wovenfabric become damaged when the airbag is inflated, which possiblyreduces the strength etc., and thus makes it impossible to showsufficient performance as an airbag.

When the resin is in a solid state, examples of the method for applyingthe thermoplastic resin to the non-silicone-coated surface of thesilicone-coated fabric include a method of scattering the resin usingvibration etc., a method of spraying the resin using compressed airetc., and a method of pattern processing using dot patterns, gravurerolls, etc. When the resin is in a thermally molten state or a solutionstate, examples include knife coating, roll coating, T-die coating, andother coating methods; ink-jet spraying and other spraying methods; andthe like.

Any pattern of the thermoplastic resin is uniformly placed on the entirenon-silicone-coated surface of the silicone-coated fabric. The patternmay be random, dot, slit, or lattice pattern. A random or dot pattern ispreferable since they can suppress an increase in the rigidity of thecoated fabric, require less energy for applying pressure for folding,and are unlikely to interfere with the folding of the fabric in anydirection.

When the thermoplastic resin is applied to the non-silicone-coatedsurface of the silicone-coated fabric to form any pattern, such as arandom, dot, slit, or lattice pattern, the thermoplastic resin adheringarea is preferably 1 to 45%, more preferably 3 to 40%, and still morepreferably 5 to 35%. When the resin adhering area is less than 1%,creases formed by applying heat and pressure for folding cannot bemaintained. When the resin adhering area exceeds 45%, the adhesivestrength, described later, becomes too high between thenon-silicone-coated surfaces (the surfaces to which the thermoplasticresin is applied) of the silicone-coated fabric. Thus, when the airbagis inflated, the filaments constituting the synthetic fiber woven fabricbecome damaged, possibly reducing the strength etc. and making itimpossible to show sufficient performance as an airbag.

The method of allowing the thermoplastic resin to be adhered andimmobilized on the non-silicone-coated surface of the silicone-coatedfabric includes an immobilization method comprising using an adhesivebeforehand on the coated surface. Alternatively, the resin after beingdisposed may be heated to melt and cooled to solidification to achievephysical adhesion. When the resin is in a molten state, solidificationby cooling is preferable. When the resin is in a solution state, theimmobilization method above, a method of performing melting whileevaporating the solvent by heating to achieve physical adhesion, or amethod of curing the solvent itself by heating or by ultraviolet raysfor immobilization may be selected.

The adhesive strength between the non-silicone-coated surfaces (thesurfaces to which the thermoplastic resin is applied) of thesilicone-coated fabric is 0.01 to 100 N/cm, preferably 0.05 to 80 N/cm,and more preferably 0.1 to 50 N/cm. When the adhesive strength is lessthan 0.01 N/cm, sufficient adhesive strength cannot be obtained, andcreases formed by applying heat and pressure for folding cannot bemaintained. When the adhesive strength exceeds 100 N/cm, the filamentsconstituting the synthetic fiber woven fabric become damaged when theairbag is inflated, which possibly reduces the strength etc., thusmaking it impossible to show sufficient performance as an airbag.

EXAMPLES

The present invention is described in more detail below with referenceto Examples. However, the present invention is not limited to thefollowing Examples. The measurement methods used in the Examples are asfollows.

Melting Point of Thermoplastic Resin

A thermoplastic resin (about 5 mg) adhering to the non-silicone-coatedsurface of a silicone-coated fabric was placed in a sampling pan andmelted at a temperature elevation rate of 5° C./min in an atmosphere ofair flow at 100 ml/min using a DSC Q100 (produced by TA Instruments);the maximum endothermic peak in the obtained endotherm curve wasconsidered to be the melting point.

Adhesive Strength

When a silicone-coated fabric was used as a sample, two measurementsample sheets of the same size (width: 5 cm; length: 5 cm or more) werecut from a silicone-coated fabric to which a thermoplastic resinadhered. The two cut measurement sample sheets were stacked so that thenon-silicone-coated surfaces to which the thermoplastic resin adheredwere facing each other. These sheets were sandwiched between metalplates while leaving the regions of 2 cm from each end for the chucks ofa tensile tester to hold. A 1 kg weight was placed on the sheets, whichwere allowed to stand for 30 minutes in an oven at a temperature ±10° C.of the melting point of the thermoplastic resin. After removal from theoven, cooling was performed at 20° C. for 60 minutes while the weightwas placed on the sheets, thereby producing a sample for peeling. Theproduced sample for peeling was peeled at the adhesive portion at a rateof 500 ram/min by RTM-500; the maximum value was read from the obtainedchart, and this value was divided by the sample width of 5 cm. Thethus-obtained value was considered to be the adhesive strength.

When an airbag was used as a sample, a measurement sample (width: 2 cmor more; length: 2.5 cm or more) was cut from an airbag in a state inwhich the silicone-coated fabrics to which a thermoplastic resin adheredhad been adhesion-treated by applying heat and pressure. In the cutmeasurement sample, the non-silicone-coated fabrics adhered to eachother; thus, a region of 2 cm from one end of the sample was peeled byhand so as to allow the chucks of a tensile tester to hold, and theadhesion portion was peeled at a rate of 500 mm/min by RTM-500; themaximum value was read from the obtained chart, and this value wasdivided by the sample width. The thus-obtained value was considered tobe the adhesive strength.

Compactness

A silicone-coated fabric to which a thermoplastic resin adhered was cutinto a size of 15 cm (warp)×30 cm (weft), and folded parallel to thewarp 6 times in a bellows form so that portions of thenon-silicone-coated surface to which the thermoplastic resin adheredwere stacked against each other (see FIG. 4). The thus-obtained samplewas packed into a metal container having a diameter of 45 mm, and a 1 kgmetal weight having a diameter of 45 mm was placed on the sample, whichwas allowed to stand for 30 minutes in an oven at 150° C. Thereafter,the resulting product was removed from the oven and cooled at 20° C. for30 minutes while the weight was placed on it. The sample was removedfrom the metal container and then allowed to stand at 20° C. for 30minutes. The widest portion of the sample after being allowed to standwas measured to evaluate the compactness.

For the sample in which a thermoplastic resin adhered to only thesilicone-coated surface (Comparative Example 2 below), the evaluationwas performed in such a manner that the portions of the silicone-coatedsurface to which the thermoplastic resin adhered were stacked againsteach other.

Example 1

A plain-weave fabric was woven from nylon 66 multifilament fibercontaining 72 filaments that had a total fineness of 470 dtex by using awater-jet loom. Subsequently, the fabric was subjected to shrinkageprocessing with boiling water and dry finishing at 110° C. The obtainedwoven fabric had a weave density in the warp and weft direction of 46yarns/2.54 cm.

An addition polymerization methyl vinyl silicone resin was applied onceto one surface of this woven fabric by knife coating, and curingtreatment was performed at 190° C. for 1 minute, thereby obtaining asilicone-coated fabric having a coating amount of 30 g/m². Thereafter,an LDPE resin (1050, M30PASS, produced by Tokyo Printing Ink Mfg. Co.,Ltd.) was applied to the non-silicone-coated surface to form a staggeredpattern in which 14 dots, each having a diameter of 6 mm and a thicknessof 1 mm, were uniformly formed per square of 3.5 cm×3.5 cm. A heattreatment was then performed at 190° C. for 1 minute to immobilize theLDPE resin on the non-coated layer surface.

Table 1 shows the physical properties etc. of the obtainedsilicone-coated fabric. The obtained silicone-coated fabric had anadhesive strength of 0.08 N/cm and a compactness of 55 mm, and creasesformed by applying heat and pressure were well maintained.

Example 2

An addition polymerization methyl vinyl silicone resin was applied onceto the same woven fabric as in Example 1 by knife coating, and curingtreatment was performed at 190° C. for 1 minute, thereby obtaining asilicone-coated fabric having a coating amount of 30 g/m². Thereafter,an EVA resin (2030, M30PASS, produced by Tokyo Printing Ink Mfg. Co.,Ltd.) was applied to the non-coated surface to form a staggered patternin which 14 dots, each having a diameter of 2 mm and a thickness of 1mm, were uniformly formed per square of 3.5 cm×3.5 cm. A heat treatmentwas then performed at 190° C. for 1 minute to immobilize the EVA resinon the non-coated layer surface.

Table 1 shows the physical properties etc. of the obtainedsilicone-coated fabric. The obtained silicone-coated fabric had anadhesive strength of 1.5 N/cm and a compactness of 50 mm, and creasesformed by applying heat and pressure were well maintained.

Example 3

An addition polymerization methyl vinyl silicone resin was applied onceto the same woven fabric as in Example 1 by knife coating, and curingtreatment was performed at 190° C. for 1 minute, thereby obtaining asilicone-coated fabric having a coating amount of 30 g/m². Thereafter,an EVA resin (2030, M30PASS, produced by Tokyo Printing Ink Mfg. Co.,Ltd.) was applied to the non-coated surface to form a staggered patternin which 14 dots, each having a diameter of 6 mm and a thickness of 1mm, were uniformly formed per square of 3.5 cm×3.5 cm. A heat treatmentwas then performed at 190° C. for 1 minute to immobilize the EVA resinon the non-coated layer surface.

Table 1 shows the physical properties etc. of the obtainedsilicone-coated fabric. The obtained silicone-coated fabric had anadhesive strength of 3.5 N/cm and a compactness of 45 mm, and creasesformed by applying heat and pressure were well maintained.

Example 4

An addition polymerization methyl vinyl silicone resin was applied onceto the same woven fabric as in Example 1 by knife coating, and curingtreatment was performed at 190° C. for 1 minute, thereby obtaining asilicone-coated fabric having a coating amount of 30 g/m². Thereafter, apolyamide resin (F915, type L, produced by Tokyo Printing Ink Mfg. Co.,Ltd.) was applied to the non-coated surface to form a staggered patternin which 14 dots, each having a diameter of 6 mm and a thickness of 1mm, were uniformly formed per square of 3.5 cm×3.5 cm. A heat treatmentwas then performed at 190° C. for 1 minute to immobilize the polyamideresin on the non-coated layer surface.

Table 1 shows the physical properties etc. of the obtainedsilicone-coated fabric. The obtained silicone-coated fabric had anadhesive strength of 11.0 N/cm and a compactness of 45 mm, and creasesformed by applying heat and pressure were well maintained.

Example 5

An addition polymerization methyl vinyl silicone resin was applied onceto the same woven fabric as in Example 1 by knife coating, and curingtreatment was performed at 190° C. for 1 minute, thereby obtaining asilicone-coated fabric having a coating amount of 30 g/m². Thereafter, apolyester resin (G170, type Z, produced by Tokyo Printing Ink Mfg. Co.,Ltd.) was applied to the non-coated surface to form a staggered patternin which 14 dots, each having a diameter of 6 mm and a thickness of 1mm, were uniformly formed per square of 3.5 cm×3.5 cm. A heat treatmentwas then performed at 190° C. for 1 minute to immobilize the polyesterresin on the non-coated layer surface.

Table 1 shows the physical properties etc. of the obtainedsilicone-coated fabric. The obtained silicone-coated fabric had anadhesive strength of 8.0 N/cm and a compactness of 45 mm, and creasesformed by applying heat and pressure were well maintained.

Comparative Example 1

An addition polymerization methyl vinyl silicone resin was applied onceto the same woven fabric as in Example 1 by knife coating, and curingtreatment was performed at 190° C. for 1 minute, thereby obtaining asilicone-coated fabric having a coating amount of 30 g/m². Thereafter, athermoplastic resin was not applied to the fabric.

Table 2 shows the physical properties etc. of the obtainedsilicone-coated fabric. The obtained silicone-coated fabric had acompactness of 72 mm, and creases formed by applying heat and pressurewere not maintained.

Comparative Example 2

An addition polymerization methyl vinyl silicone resin was applied onceto the same woven fabric as in Example 1 by knife coating, and curingtreatment was performed at 190° C. for 1 minute, thereby obtaining asilicone-coated fabric having a coating amount of 30 g/m². Thereafter,an LDPE resin (1050, M30PASS, produced by Tokyo Printing Ink Mfg. Co.,Ltd.) was applied to the coated surface to form a staggered pattern inwhich 14 dots, each having a diameter of 1 mm and a thickness of 0.5 mm,were uniformly formed per square of 3.5 cm×3.5 cm. A curing treatmentwas then performed at 190° C. for 1 minute to immobilize the LDPE resinon the coated layer surface.

Table 2 shows the physical properties etc. of the obtainedsilicone-coated fabric. The obtained silicone-coated fabric had anadhesive strength of 0.005 N/cm and a compactness of 72 mm, and creaseswere not maintained.

TABLE 1 Ex. 1 Ex. 2 Ex. 3 Ex. 4 Ex. 5 Thermoplastic resin LDPE EVA EVAPolyamide Polyester Thermoplastic resin 300 40 300 300 300 adheringamount (g/m²) Melting point of 105 97 97 90 115 thermoplastic resin (°C.) Thermoplastic resin Dia.: 6 mm, Dia.: 2 mm, Dia.: 6 mm, Dia.: 6 mm,Dia.: 6 mm, adhesion pattern dot dot dot dot dot Adhesive strength(N/cm) 0.08 1.5 3.5 11.0 8.0 Compactness (mm) 55 50 45 45 45

TABLE 2 Comp. Ex. 1 Comp. Ex. 2 Thermoplastic resin — LDPE Thermoplasticresin — 10 adhering amount (g/m²) Melting point of — 105 thermoplasticresin (° C.) Thermoplastic resin — Dia.: 1 mm, dot adhesion patternAdhesive strength (N/cm) — 0.005 Compactness (mm) 72 72

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

This silicone-coated fabric is suitable for use in a storage methodcomprising folding an airbag more compactly by forming creases bysimultaneously applying heat and pressure to the base fabric, and theuse of the silicone-coated fabric enables production of an airbag inwhich creases can be easily formed by applying heat and pressure, andthat can be stored compactly; therefore, restrictions on vehicleinterior designs can be reduced, which is a great contribution to theindustry.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1: Thermoplastic Resin-   2: Non-Silicone-coated Surface of Silicone-coated Fabric-   3: Silicone-coated Surface of Silicone-coated Fabric-   4: Valley Broken Line-   5: Mountain Broken Line

1. A silicone-coated fabric comprising a silicone-based resin coated onone surface of a synthetic fiber woven fabric, and a thermoplastic resinadhering to a non-silicone coated surface, which is not coated with thesilicone-based resin, wherein the adhesive strength between thenon-silicone coated surfaces is 0.01 to 100 N/cm.
 2. The silicone-coatedfabric according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic resin has amelting point of 50 to 200° C.
 3. The silicone-coated fabric accordingto claim 1, wherein the coating amount of the silicone-based resin is 10to 200 g/m².
 4. An airbag obtained by using the silicone-coated fabricof claim 1.